greencharleville

This is a Charleville Tidy Towns proposal to create a community garden in Archbishop Mannix Place, Charleville.  

If any queries please contact - Ted Bradley on 087 2171089

 

Background

 

Charleville typical for many Irish towns has a large number of green areas who upkeep falls under the Council responsibilities.  Frequently these areas are maintained by local Tidy Towns groups.  Unfortunately both of these groups have limited resources and given the large areas struggle to keep them maintained.

 

This project proposes a new an innovative approach, which may or may not work, hence it involves some risk.  However, if successful could be used a template for other estates in the town.

 

This approach is about getting the individuals who live near to the green areas to take responsibility for them and to do this requires engendering a responsibility for the area.  So it is proposed to do four different steps, research via a consultation process, planning, implementation and finally review.  As previously mentioned tidy towns groups are limited in their resources so for this proposal, the research, planning and review aspects are outsourced.  If it is successful, it would be anticipated that with some support that the residents of the area will do the implementation.

 

The area involved is approximately 10 m by 40 m and it is surrounded by 12 houses.   Prior to starting project there has already been some support by a local resident,.

 

Step 1 – rather than call a meeting and ask residents to attend, a simple questionnaire will be designed.  Each household will be consulted.  It’s expected at least one or two households will not be interested.  However, if it proves that the majority are not, the proposal will terminate.  

 

Step 2 – using the results of the consultation a plan will be drawn up and circulated to the residents for their approval.  

 

Step 3 – implementation, the work on this area will be undertaken by the residents and some of the materials required supplied by them.  This will be done via volunteers residents and supporting groups Mens' Shed, St. Joseph’s Foundation, Foroige and Charleville Tidy Towns.   

 

Step 4 –  Review this is to ascertain did this project achieve its original goals, what can be learnt from doing this type of project.  In particular the review will focus on the potential issue of long term maintenance and vandalism.

Link to survey questionnaire - link

Link to photos